IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/. 


.<', 


:^3 


/ 


(/j 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


'-  IIIIM 


2.. 


lU    1112,2 


m  ""^ 


m 


2.0 


1.8 


U    III  1.6 


V] 


(^ 


/}. 


e. 


V 


y 


><s 


r 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STKEEt 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


i 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 
□ 


n 


□ 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


r     I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


n    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
aiong  interior  margin/ 

La  reiiure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

|~1    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


V 


D 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materic 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

idition  available/ 
Edition  disponible 


I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

□    Only  edition  available/ 
Seule 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  i  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu^  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


e 

§tails 
s  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Image 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  fiimd  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplafres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  coinmenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fiimds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmi  &  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrpmmes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


9rrata 
to 


pelure, 
n  d 


D 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I 


REPORT 


ON  THE 


PLUMBAGO    MINES 


SITUATED   AT 


roiNTE   AUX   CHflNES,   GRENVILLE, 


PKOVINCE   OF   QUEBEC. 


By  CHARLES  EOBB,  j 

MINING   ENGINEEK,  OF   MONTKEAL;         JL 


WITH  A  LETTER  FROM  PROF.  ROBERT  BELL.   OF    QUEEN'S 

UNIVERSITY,  KINGSTON. 


CAMBRIDGE: 

PRESS  OF  JOHN  WILSON  AND  SON. 
1868. 


/8G8 

17 


vi 


The  Properties  described  in  the  following  Reports  having  been 
secured,  it  is  now  proposed  to  organize  a  Company  for  working 
the  same,  with  such  a  Capital,  and  under  such  direction  and  code 
of  By-laws  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Subscribers,  at  a  meet- 
ing duly  called  for  that  purpose. 

Subscriptions  will  be  received  at  No.  3,  Barristers'  Hall, 
Court  Square,  Boston  ;  where  specimens  of  the  mineral  may  be 
examined,  together  with  the  crucible  made  therefrom  and  tested 
at  the  Ballard  Vale  Works. 


^ 


0  5y  5i 


PJIELIMIXARY   III^MARKS. 


In  presenting  the  following  Report,  it  is  proper  to 
state,  for  the  information  of  those  who  are  unacquainted 
with  the  author,  Mr.  Charles  Robb,  of  Montreal,  that 
he  is  a  distinguished  mining  engineer,  whose  many 
years  of  experience  in  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  well-known  independence  of  mind,  judgment  and 
integrity,  eminently  entitle  him  to  respect  and  confi- 
dence. Sir  William  E.  Logan,*  the  celebrated  direc- 
tor of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Canada,  which  has  ' 
been  going  on  under  order  of  the  Provincial  Govern- 
ment for  more  than  twenty  years,  places  him  first 
among  those  to  whom  he  acknowledges  his  obliga- 
tions for  valuable  information  respecting  the  "  locali- 


*  We  trust  that  we  are  not  violating  any  confldcMico  in  saying,  that  we 
liave  seen  a  testimonial  given  by  Sir  WilHani,  of  wiiicli  the  following  is  an 
exact  transcrijjt :  — 


Esq., 


"MoxTKKAL,  30th  August,  IHOO. 


Dr.AU  Sir,  —  It  gives  nie  mucli  pleasure  to  say,  that  I  am  well  awjiiaiiiti'd 
nith  Mr.  Charles  Uobb,  mining  engineer,  of  Montreal.  I  consider  him  a  re- 
liable person,  one  of  strict  probity,  and  possessed  of  good  judgment  in  a  pro- 
fessional capacity.  He  takes  great  pains  to  ascertain  the  truth,  and  he  gives 
his  opinion  with  honesty. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  very  truly  j'ours, 

WM.   E.  LOGAN. 


tics    and   modes   of   occurrence   of    several   mineral 
deposits  of  economic  importance." 

Now,  among  the  minerals  of  this  character,  that 
which  forms  tlie  subject  of  this  Report  claims  our  at- 
tention from  the  great  variety  and  importance  of  the 
uses  to  which  it  is  applied ;  such,  for  example,  as 
the  manufacture  of  lead-pencils,  and  electrotyping ; 
for  both  of  which  purposes  the  purest  article  is  re- 
quired, and  the  highest  price  is  paid,  (for  the  latter, 
$2.50  per  pound).  It  is  extensively  used  for  polish- 
ing stoves  and  other  articles  of  iron ;  for  lining 
moulds  for  delicate  castings  ;  for  lubricating  the  bear- 
ings of  heavy  machinery ;  and,  especially,  when 
mixed  Vv^ith  clay,  it  is  used  in  the  greatest  qua^itity  for 
a  purpose  we  regard  as  the  most  important  of  all ; 
namely,  the  manufacture  of  crucibles.  Being  infu- 
sible, and  presenting  a  powerful  resistance  to  the  ac- 
tion of  caloric,  this  mineral  is  indispensable  for  the 
composition  of  melting-pots  that  will  stand  the  intense 
heat  of  furnaces  for  the  making  of  cast-steel. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  plumbago,  or  graphite,  as 
it  is  called  by  Werner,  one  of  the  most  eminent  min- 
eralogists, is  of  two  principal  varieties,  —  the  amor- 
phous or  uncrystallized  and  the  lamellar  or  foliated. 
The  former  is  used  for  many  of  the  above  purposes  ; 
but  only  the  foliated^  in  a  state  of  great  purity,  will 
answer  for  crucibles.  For  this  use  there  is  growing 
up  in  our  country  a  demand  wliich  it  will  not  be  easy 
to  supply.  Hitherto  our  dependence  has  been,  and 
still  is,  almost,  if  not  altogether,  upon  the  plumbago 
imported  from  Ceylon,  in  the  East  Indies,  either  di- 
rectly to  this  country,  or  by  the  way  of  England.    The 


t 


I 

i 


I 


supply  from  this  source,  however,  is  irregular,  often 
insufficient,  and  Uablc  to  be  cut  off  entirely  in  case 
of  hostilities  in  the  Indian  Ocean.  Of  the  quantity 
imported  previous  to  1863,  we  have  no  reliable  data 
for  ctu  estimate.  In  that  year,  accordhig  to  th6  cus- 
tom-house returns,  the  importation  into  the  districts 
of  New  York  and  Boston  was  only  ()7,7'23  pounds. 
In  186-t,  it  was  5,122,880;  in  1805,  5,770,240;  in 
1866,  3,299,520. 

If  success  in  the  manufacture  of  refined  steel  in 
the  United  States  is  a  matter  of  national  concern,  it  is 
obviously  of  very  great  importance  that  an  ample 
supply  of  this  valuable  mineral  should  be  secured 
from  sources  near  at  hand. 

The  opinion,  however,  has  very  generally  obtained, 
and  is  still  held  by  many  with  great  pertinacity,  tliat 
the  mineral  of  the  kind  and  degree  of  purity  required 
is  not  to  be  found  in  this  country.  But  we  venture  to 
affirm,  and  with  confidence  from  personal  observation, 
that  graphite  of  the  foliated  variety,  and  of  a  quality 
fully  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  the  best  of  the  imported 
article,  exists  in  abundance  in  some  portions  of  Can- 
ada bordering  on  the  river  Ottawa.  This  is  a  large 
and  navigable  river,  having  its  embouchure  into  the 
St.  Lawrence  by  two  mouths,  forming  between  them 
the  Island  of  Montreal.  The  geological  formation  of 
the  region,  we  are  told,  is  identical  with  that  of  Cey- 
lon. Throughout  an  extensive  tract  of  country,  the 
mineral,  in  a  pure  and  crystallized  state,  is  seen,  here 
and  there,  to  crop  out,  particularly  along  the  line  of 
contact  between  the  limestone  and  the  gneissoid  rock. 
Generally  speaking,  the  mineral,  in  its  pui-e  state,  has 


() 


not  hccn  found  in  quantity  sufnciont  for  ])rofitablo 
workiui';  but  is  most  coiunionly  disscniinatcd  in  tin; 
udjaccnit  rocks,  so  as  to  re(iuire  crusliin*^  and  ^vushin^^ 
by  whic'b  it  is  separated  from  foreign  ingredients,  and 
fitted  for  tlie  market.  There  iire  exceptions,  how- 
ever, to  tliis  remark ;  and  the  writer,  havinji^  visited 
the  re<>ion  referred  to  several  times  within  the  last 
two  years,  and,  in  company  with  the  State  (ieoloi^ist 
of  Vermont,  Prof.  Ilager,  examined  the  principal  lo- 
calities where  explorations  have  been  made,  has  no 
hesitation  in  expressing  liis  conviction,  tliat  the  prop- 
erties described  in  the  accompanying  Keport  by  Mr. 
Kobb  alford  the  best  promise  of  any  deposits  yet  ex- 
plored for  an  abundant  yield  of  this  important  mineral, 
and  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  purity.  And  this  con- 
viction is  strengthened  by  the  opinion  expressed  by 
Dr.  T.  Sterry  Hunt,  in  his  recently  published  lleport 
on  this  subject,  that  ''  it  will  probably  be  found  that 
the  higldy  crystalline  lamellar  Graphite  belongs,  iti 
all  cases,  to  true  veins,  where  a  slow  process  of  deposit 
has  allowed  it  to  assume  that  mode  of  aggregation 
and  that  purity  which  characterize  other  minerals 
thus  deposited."  —  Geolofjlcal  Survey  of  Canada, 
1866,  p.  2:22. 

The  maps  which  accompany  the  Kcport  will  give  a 
very  correct  idea  of  tlie  situation  of  tlie  two  pro^jcr- 
ties,  and  of  the  facility  for  transportation  by  the  Ot- 
tawa and  St.  Lawrence  llivers.  Lake  Champlain, 
"Whitehall  Canal,  and  the  Hudson  Ilivcr,  to  New 
York  ;  or  from  Burlington  by  railroad  to  Boston. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  Keport,  that  Sir  William  Lo- 
gan, in  his  Geological  Survey  of  Canada,  referring  to 


V) 


% 


) 


I 

I 


the  first  of  these  properties,  dosin^niitod  on  tlie  "Nfiip 
No.  2  as  tlic  Cainerou  i>r()per(\,  states,  tliat  the  '*  hod 
lias  heeii  traced,  at  intervals,  for  a  distance  of  ahoiit 
three  vhIcs,  running;  a  little  east  of  north."  l)y  refer- 
ence to  Map  No.  1,  the  limestone  hand  is  seen  con- 
necting the  two  properties  ;  and  there  is  the  stronj^est 
reason  to  ])eliev(^  that  this  deposit  of  phnnhaij^o  ex- 
tends from  one  to  the  other.  The  entire  tract  ai)])cars 
to  he  a  continnation  of  the  higli  ridge  on  which  is 
the  Cameron  deposit,  and  to  he  similar  in  its  geologi- 
cal character.  The  mineral  rights  of  this  intervening 
tract,  there  is  no  donht,  could  he  secured  on  very 
reasonahle  terms ;  and  its  accpiisition  hy  the  company 
]u*oposed  to  he  formed,  would,  in  all  prohahility,  give 
advantages  to  place  it  heyond  com[)etition. 

A  good  road  passes  along  the  eastern  hase  of  the 
ridge  the  whole  distance,  affording  great  facility  of 
access  for  working  the  property,  and  for  direct  com- 
munication with  good  water-power. 

Camuuidge,  Dec.  80,  1807.  J.    D.    G. 

The  following  testimoniiil  to  tho  quiility  of  tli(!  Cameron  Plum- 
bago is  from  the  Superintendent  of  the  crneible  tlepartment  of  the 
Whipple  File  and  Steel  ^Ifg.  Co.'.s  works  at  llullard  Vale,  in  u 
letter  to  the  Treasurer :  — 

Ballard  Vale,  Fob.  27,  18G7. 
S.  D.  Saroeant,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  now  make  a  report  of  the  trial  pots  made  from  Mr.  Green's 
Canada  Plumbaffo. 

Tlie  first  lot  lie  sent  me,  (10  lbs.)  I  made  mto  one  Steel  Crucible,  and  it 
lias  run  four  heats.    I  pronounce  it  A.  No.  1. 

Yours  respectfully,         JOHN  UNDERWOOD. 


RKPOUT 


ON   THE 


[f> 


POINTE  AUX  CHENES  PLLMBAGO  MINES, 


SITUATED   IN 


GKENVILLE,   CANADA  EAST. 


J 


90,  St.  FRAxroTS  Xavieu  Sthekt, 

MoNTiiEAL,  lOtli  Noveiuber,  18G7. 
Jami:s  D.  Gueen,  Esq., 

Cainbriilge,  IVIass. 

Dear  Sir,  —  Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have 
visited  and  inspected  certain  lots  of  land  in  the  Aug- 
mentation of  Grenville,  in  Canada  East,  of  which 
you  have  recently  acquired  control,  for  the  purpose 
of  mining  and  manufacturing  plumbago. 

I  have  now  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  you  the 
following  Report,  together  with  a  map  showing  the 
position  of  the  properties  ;  and  also  a  more  detailed 
plan  of  one  of  them,  on  which  considerable  work 
has  been  done  in  testing  the  deposits.  I  beg  also  to 
hand  to  you  copies  of  certain  printed  reports  upon 
properties  of  a  similar  nature,  containing  important 
information  on  the  subject,  which  need  not  here  be 
recapitulated. 

Your  property  consists  of  the  north  half  of  Lot 
No.  3,  in  the  second  Eange  of  the  township,  contain- 


9 


be 


ing  one  hnndrrd  arrcs ;  and  tlic  soutli  half  of  liOt 
No.  2,  in  the  sixtli  U;m<:fc,  containing;  one  hnnch'cd 
acres, —  on  whicli  lots  yon  have  ac(inired  the  mineral 
rights,  free  from  all  dues  or  royalty.  Also,  the  fee- 
simple  of  five  acres  of  land  on  the  first-mentioned  lot, 
and  of  three  acres  on  the  north  half  of  the  other,  at 
both  which  points  the  most  extensive  developments 
have  been  made,  and  the  richest  sniface  indications 
of  the  mineral  found. 

The  district  in  wliich  yoiii-  property  is  situated  lies 
on  the  north  side  of  the  great  navi"^  ible  river  Ottawa, 
abont  midway  betv  ecu  ]M  )nlieal  and  Ottawa  City. 
It  has  been  long  esteem*  d  na  the  most  favorable  in 
the  province  for  the  produr-tion  of  graphite ;  having 
been  specially  mentioned  by  Sir  AVillinm  Logan,  in 
this  connection,  as  far  back  as  the  year  ISol,  when 
fine  specimens  from  both  localities  now  owned  by 
you  were  sent  by  him  to  the  great  London  Exhibition, 
where  they  attracted  much  attention.  Subsequent  de- 
velopments have  proved  that  the  region  north  of  the 
Ottawa,  in  Canada,  is  probably  destined  to  be  one  of 
the  most  important  in  the  world  for  the  supply  of  this 
useful  mineral. 

In  the  district  in  which  you  are  specially  interested, 
the  country  is  underlaid  by  rocks  of  the  Laurentian 
formation,  consisting  of  gneiss,  interstratified  with 
crystalline  limestone,  the  bands  or  beds  of  the  lat- 
ter rock  being  penetrated  occasionally  by  the  former, 
as  well  as  by  other  rocks  of  an  intrusive  character. 
The  graphite  occurs  associated  with  the  limestone,  or 
in  its  immediate  vicinity,  both  in  beds  subordinate  to, 
and  in  veins  cutting  the  stratification ;  where  concen- 


10 


1:;! 


tratcd  in  the  purest  form,  and  least  mixed  with  for- 
eign ip^^redients,  it  seems,  as  is  also  the  case  with 
most  metallic  ores,  to  lie  between  the  different  kinds 
of  rock.  I  have  indicated  by  the  blue  tint  approxi- 
mately, upon  the  general  map,  the  tracts  underlaid  by 
the  plumbaginous  limestone  formation  referred  to. 

On  your  lot  No.  3,  in  the  second  range,  the  lime- 
stone is  penetrated  by  a  mass  of  syenite,  forming  a 
ridge  of  seventy  or  eighty  feet  in  height,  and  of  a 
linear  extent  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods ;  on  the 
south  side  of  which,  and  near  to  the  line  of  contact  of 
the  two  distinct  rocks,  the  deposit  of  graphite  occurs. 
Another  description  of  intrusive  rock,  consisting  of  a 
species  of  trap  or  dolerite,  also  occurs  here,  being 
observed  at  some  places  to  overflow  or  cap  the  lime- 
stone, and  at  others  to  cut  it  in  the  manner  of  a  dike. 
Such  changes  of  rock  are  everywhere  regarded  as 
favorable  for  the  aggregation  of  minerals  and  metallic 
ores ;  and  occurring,  as  they  do  here,  in  a  limestone 
highly  charged  with  graphite,  have,  no  doubt,  been 
conducive  to  its  deposit  here  in  large  quantities,  and 
in  a  state  of  great  purity. 

A  considerable  amount  of  work  has  been  done  in 
exploring  and  testing  this  location ;  and  about  three 
tons  of  very  pure  plumbago  have  been  incidentally 
obtained  and  sent  to  market,  where  it  has  realized 
the  highest  price  usually  obtained  for  this  article. 
Four  pits  have  been  opened  upon  a  course  N.  50° 
E.,  coinciding  with  the  strike  of  the  rocks ;  the  dis- 
tance between  the  extreme  points  of  the  openings  is 
about  five  hundred  yards;  and  pure  plumbago  has 
been  obtained  at  all  the  openings,  which  may  thus  be 


11 


Is 
Is 


regarded  as  marking  the  course  of  an  embedded  vein. 
The  purest  phimbago  has  been  obtained  chiefly  at 
the  pit  marked  No.  5.  At  the  distance  of  about  two 
hundred  feet  across  the  strike,  other  openings  have 
revealed  the  probable  existence  of  another  parallel 
vein  of  the  mineral. 

On  both  of  your  lots  the  facilities  for  mining,  as 
regards  drainage,  deposit  of  waste  materials,  supply 
of  timber,  proximity  to  roads,  &;c.,  are  of  the  most 
favorable  description. 

Sir  William  Logan,  in  writin^^  of  the  tw^o  locations 
secured  by  you,  remarks :  "  A  bed  of  pure  graphite 
occurs  in  the  Augmentation  of  Gi:envillc,  and  has  been 
traced  at  intervals  for  a  distance  of  about  three  miles, 
running  a  little  east  of  north.  One  of  the  exposures, 
occurring  on  Lot  3,  Range  2,  has  been  mined  to  a 
small  extent  by  Messrs.  llussell  &  Co.  At  the  open- 
ing of  the  excavation,  it  showed  a  thickness  of  about 
ten  inches ;  but  the  pure  graphite  was  found  to  form 
a  lenticular  mass,  which  appeared  to  be  separated 
from  other  masses  of  the  same  character  by  intervals, 
in  which  the  gra})liite  became  intermixed  with  the 
limestone.  It  is  probable,  that  a  number  of  these, 
running  through  the  rock  at  the  same  horizon,  may 
represent  the  general  character  of  the  workable  beds. 
On  Lot  2,  E-ange  6,  the  bed  becomes  three  feet  thick; 
but  here  the  quality  is  impaired  by  the  presence  of 
foreign  earthy  matters,  which,  however,  can  scarcely 
be  detected  by  the  eye."  I  may  here  remark,  that,  on 
a  late  visit  to  your  lot,  No.  2,  in  the  Sixth  llange,  I 
found  that,  in  addition  to  the  bed  referred  to  by  Sir 
William,  a  ve'm  had  recently  been  discovered,  which 


III! 


12 


i 


has  yielded  many  fine  specimens  of  the  pure  min- 
eral. 

Since  the  date  at  which  Sir  William  Logan's  re- 
marks were  penned,  a  species  of  revolution  has  taken 
place  in  the  business  of  producing  plumbago  for  the 
market.  Formerly,  the  prevailing  impression  was, 
that  the  mineral  was  marketable  only  when  obtained 
from  the  rocks  in  a  state  approaching  absolute  purity  ; 
but  the  irregularity  of  the  deposits  of  such  a  nature, 
not  only  in  Canada,  but  wherever  they  have  been 
worked,  precludes  the  possibility,  in  most  cases,  of 
calculating  with  any  degree  of  certainty  upon  an  ade- 
quate supply  from  this  source.  Furthermore,  the 
graphite,  as  it  occurs  in  nature,  even  in  the  purest 
form,  invariably  contains  a  certain  proportion  of  for- 
eign matters,  such  as  lime  and  iron ;  which,  for  the 
most  important  purpose  for  which  it  is  used, — namely, 
the  manufiicture  of  crucibles,  —  renders  the  previous 
extraction  of  these  deleterious  ingredients  absolutely 
necessary.  Recently,  processes  have  been  introduced, 
whereby,  in  a  simple  and  inexpensive  manner,  the 
plumbago  may  be  separated  in  a  state  of  absolute 
purity  from  rocks  impregnated  with  it. 

The  employment  of  these  processes  of  manufacture, 
which  consist  chiefly  in  crushing  and  washing  the 
rocks,  after  the  manner  of  an  ore,  have  established 
the  business  on  a  comparatively  permanent,  sure 
and  satisfactory  basis  of  calculation.  The  estimates 
of  the  costs  and  profits,*  contained  in  the  accompany- 
ing printed  reports,  although  prepared  specially  with 


*  Sec  tliese  estimates,  at  the  end  of  this  Report. 


U\ 


d 
e 


reference  to  other  locations  of  a  similar  nature,  will 
not  require  material  modification  in  the  case  of  your 
properties.  And  it  only  remains  for  me  to  say  on  this 
head,  that  on  the  lots  now  held  by  you  there  exist 
undoubtedly  deposits  of  the  mineral,  both  in  the  con- 
centrated an^l  disseminated  state,  of  equal,  if  not  su- 
perior, excellence  to  any  yet  discovered  in  Canada. 

For  the  successful  prosecution  of  this  business,  it  is 
essential  to  have,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
mines,  the  control  of  water-power  sufficient  to  drive 
the  requisite  machinery  for  crushing  and  washing. 
In  this  respect  also  your  properties  are  favorably 
situated,  having  command  of  the  waters  of  the  Pointe 
aux  Chenes  Brook,  which,  though  small,  is  fed  by 
never-failing  springs,  and  connected  with  a  natural 
reservoir,  in  the  shape  of  a  lake  of  about  half  a  square 
mile  in  extent,  and  of  a  very  considerable  depth.  This 
stream  flows  in  a  southerly  direction  through  a  table- 
land elevated  at  least  two  hundred  feet  above  the 
Ottawa  Eiver ;  and  afl'ording,  at  other  convenient 
points,  facilities  for  further  damming  up  and  storing 
its  waters,  if  necessary.  For  the  distance  of  about 
half  a  mile  from  where  it  falls  into  the  Ottawa  Iliver, 
its  channel  descends  with  a  tolerably  regular  slope ; 
and,  if  the  whole  of  its  waters  were  conveyed  in  a 
close  pipe  to  or  near  the  embouchure,  it  would  afl'ord 
ample  power  for  driving  all  the  requisite  machinery ; 
with  the  further  advantage,  by  this  arrangement,  of 
avoiding  all  obstructions  from  ice,  incident  to  the 
maintenance  of  water-wheels  in  winter  in  this  climate. 
An  eligible  site  for  the  mill,  as  shown  upon  the  plans, 
can  easily  be  obtained  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  at 


14 


the  distance  of  about  two  miles  from  one,  and  six 
miles  from  the  other,  of  your  locations. 

And  for  the  convenience  of  shipment,  a  site  for  a 
wharf,  with  ample  depth  of  water  near  the  shore  of 
the  river,  can  be  had  at  the  distance  of  one-third  of  a 
mile  from  the  proposed  mill-site. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES   llOBB,  3Ii7iing  Engineer. 


The  following  are  the  estimates  referred  to  in  the 
foregoing  Report :  — 

In  order  to  show  the  groumls  for  my  belief,  that  a  highly  lucra- 
tive business  may  be  established  by  mining  on  such  a  bed  or  vein 
as  I  have  described,  and  separating  its  more  valuable  mineral 
ingredients  by  crushing  and  washing,  I  beg  to  submit  the  following 
estimate  of  the  costs  and  profits  of  Avorking,  —  premising  that  the 
calculation,  in  all  its  more  important  items,  is  based  upon  actual 
experience.  The  requisite  machinery  is  of  a  simple  and  inexpen- 
sive description,  and  abundance  of  water-power  for  driving  it  may 
be  obtained  in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 

Tlie  rock  containing  25  per  cent  by  weight  of  pure  plumbago, 
suppose  that  8  per  cent  is  lost  in  dressing,  &c.,  (which  is  more  than 
an  ample  allowance ;)  then,  in  order  to  produce  one  ton  of  pure 
plumbago,  about  six  tons  of  rock  ai'c  required  to  be  mined  and 
dressed. 

From  reliable  sources  of  information  I  learn,  that  the  usual 
price  of  pure  plumbago  in  the  New- York  market  is  about  seven 
cents  per  pound;*  but,  in  the  subjoined  estimate,  I  shall,  for  the 
sake  of  safety,  assume  it  to  be  worth  only  six  cents  per  pound. 


II 


*  Thoso  estimates  are  made  upon  a  specie  basis.     At  present  the  price  is 
14  cts.  per  lb.,  occasioned,  as  reported,  by  the  flooding  oftlie  mines  in  Ceylon. 

J.  D.  G.,  Dec.  20,  1867. 


--:^U't 


15 


than 


Estimate  of  Costs  and  Profits  on  producing  one  Ton  of  Pure  Plumlxtgo. 

Mining  0  tons  of  rrfck     ....     at  $2.r)0  per  ton $15.00 

Dniwiiiff  to  (lrcssiii<r-niill    .     .     .      „       .50       „ 8.00 

Crusliiii},'  find  dressing    ....      „     l.'Jo       „ 7.50 

Separating  dead  rock  (if  any),  say  „      .50      „ 3.00 

("aJL-ining,  to  rcniove  lime,  &c.,  say 4.00 

Barrels  and  parking 3.00 

Drawing  to  sliippin^r  wiiarf 1..50 

Freight  to  New  York,  say 7.00 

Cost  of  one  ton  pure  plumbago,  delivered  in  New  York .S41.00 

Value         „  „  „  „         at  Gc.  per  lb.    120.00 

Profits  on  one  ton §70.00 

Suppose  now  that  only  18  tons  of  rough  rock  —  equal  to  3  tons  of  pure  plum- 
bago—  were  produced  per  day,  and  allowing  210  days  to  tiie  year,  tiiis 
would  give  (3  .\-  7(J  x  240)  —annual  ])rofits §54,720.00 

Deduct  interest  on  capital,  say  §50,000,  at  10  per  cent,  §5,000.00 

Exploring,  wear  and  tear,  depreciation  of  stock,  &c.    .       3,000.00 

General  management,  agencies,  discounts  and  contin- 
gencies   5,000.00 

13,000.00 

Not  annual  profits §41,720.00 

Or  nearly  84  per  cent  on  the  capital  supposed  to  be  invested. 

It  would  appear  from  the  foregoing  estimate,  Avliicli  I  liavc  been 
careful  in  all  the  items  to  keep  on  the  safe  .side,  that  there  is  a 
■wide  margin  for  profits  even  in  Avorking  the  impure  plumbaginous 
rock,  of  which  a  regido:  and  steady  supply  can  be  always  relied 
on  ;  while  the  mining  operations  necessary  for  its  extraction  will 
doubtless  bring  to  light  deposits  of  the  mineral  in  tlie  purer  and 
more  concentrated  form,  which  will  require  no  manufacturing  pro- 
cess to  render  it  marketable,  and  on  which,  consequently,  great 
additional  profits  may  be  reasonably  expected. 

Your  property  is  so  extensive  as  to  afford  scope  for  a  very  much 
greater  production,  and,  consequently,  nmch  larger  profits,  than  I 
have  assumed  in  the  estimate  above  made. 

The  quality  of  the  plumbago  obtained  in  this  section  of  country 
is  excellent ;  and  the  demand  for  the  article  is  great,  and  likely  to 
increase  as  the  progress  of  the  arts  reveals,  from  time  to  time,  new 
applications  and  uses  for  the  mineral. 

In  these  circumstances,  I  must  regard  this  as  a  highly  promising 
field  for  mining  enterprise,  for  which  the  property  secured  by  you 
seems  to  be  in  every  way  well  adapted. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES   ROBB,  3fining  Engineer. 


LETTER  OF  PEOF.  BELE. 


The  following  letter  from  Prof.  Robert  Bell,  of  Queen's  Uni- 
versity, Kingston,  relates  to  the  Plunibago  Mine,  on  Lot  No.  2 
of  the  Sixth  Range,  containing  one  hundred  acres;  which,  by  way 
of  distinction  from  the  other,  is  called  the  McArthur  property,  of 
"which  the  mineral  rights  have  been  secured  in  perpetuity. 

Prof.  Bell  is  connected  with  Sir  William  E.  Logan,  in  the 
Geological  Survey  of  Canada. 

Quekn's  Usivktjsity,  Kixgston, 

Nov.  27,  18GG. 
CiiAULES  RoHB,  Esq.,  Montreal. 

Dear  Sir,  —  Your  letter,  requesting  information 
about  the  plumbago  on  McArtliur's  lot  in  the  Aug- 
mentation of  Grenville,  came  to  hand  yesterday. 
McArthur  is  an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  I  have  often 
slept  in  his  house  in  the  frequent  visits  which  I  made 
with  my  late  father  to  the  Augmentation  several  years 
ago.  The  plumbago  bed  on  his  lot  was  well  known 
at  that  time.  It  is  situated  on  top  of  a  rounded  hill 
of  crystalline  limestone,  which  was  mostly  covered 
with  sandy  soil  and  under  cultivation.  Where  the 
plumbago  occurs  the  soil  is  two  or  three  feet  thick. 
The  limestone  of  the  hill,  wherever  exposed,  con- 
tains more  or  less  plumbago,  but  often  in  mere  grains 


17 


thickly  (lisRomiiiatcHl  tliroiin-h  tlio  rock.  MrArthur 
was  induced  to  di^?  ut  the  spot  whore  he  struck  this 
bed,  from  the  abundance  of  th(*  loose  pieces  wliich  his 
plough  turned  up  in  the  soil  in  its  inuncMliate  vicinity. 
At  tlie  time  I  si)eak  of,  an  old  axe  lay  constantly  in 
tiie  hole  or  small  })it  wliich  had  been  duijj  to  ex- 
])ose  the  pUuiiba<:^o ;  and  the  neighbors  were  in  the 
habit  of  going  to  the']>lacc,  and  chopping  out  pieces, 
which  they  took  home,  and  cruslicd  to  powder  for 
polishing  their  stoves  and  pi])es ;  and  the  school- 
master, who  used  to  "whip  the  cat"  amongst  them, 
alwavs  had  his  boots  carefully  black(uied  ^vith  it. 
McArthur  will  remember  my  father  advising  his  sons 
to  strip  the  sand  off  a  larger  portion  of  the  bed,  and 
get  out  the  plumbago  in  quantities  to  send  to  the  New- 
York  market.  From  the  appearance  of  the  bed,  he 
did  not  doubt,  for  a  moment,  that  a  large  amount  could 
be  obtained  by  simple  means.  A  year  or  two  after  I 
became  ccnniected  with  the  Geological  Survey  I  was 
on  a  holiday  visit  to  my  friends  at  I/Orignal,  and  one 
day  went  on  a  tour  through  the  Augmentation  ;  and, 
amongst  others,  paid  a  \isit  to  ^IcArthur.  I  found 
tlie  "black-lead  hole"  partly  filled  up  by  the  falling- 
in  of  the  sand,  but  soon  removed  some  of  it.  and,  with 
an  old  axe,  borrowed  from  McArthur,  I  chopped  out 
a  hundied  weight  or  more  of  the  })lunibago.  Some 
of  the  pieces  I  took  down  to  Sir  William  Logan. 
The  largest  of  these  measured  about  twenty  inches  in 
length,  and  consisted  of  sohd  graphite,  with  almost 
invisible  particles  of  calcspar  scattered  through  it.  It 
was  taken  out  acrot<s  the  bed,  and  had  the  mark  of 
the  wall-rock,  showing  the  stratification,  at  one  end. 

8 


IS 


After  lyiu:^"  for  some  tim(»  on  rif^  of  the  shelves  of 
th(i  museum,  this  specimen  was  sent  to  tlio  J.ondon 
]'A]iii)ition  of  ]^iV2.  It  may  !>(>  in  the  nuiseum  in 
Montj'CJil  lit  tlie  present  moment;  hut  it  \^  possible 
that  it  was  sent  to'tlie  J)ui)lin  l!\hihition,  and  lost. 
U(jwever.  Sir  AVilliam  can  tell  you  about  it.  aiul  also 
show  yon  sm;tller  s})e('imens  which  I  In'ou^ht  liim  at 
the  same  time.  My  brother,  who  was  with  ]no  0]i 
this  visit,  also  took  home  som(^  sj)ecimens,  whirh  he 
aftcu'wards  brou<^ht  u[)  here  and  g<iv(>  to  mo,  so  th;.t, 
if  von  want  a  sann)l(\  I  ran  fnrnisli  vou.  i  also  left 
a  nnmbei'  of  pieces  under  McArthu)'s  ash-house  ;  l.iut 
it  is  so  long  ago.  that  I  suppose  they  have;  all  disa])- 
p(vired  before  now.  The  part  of  ihe  Ix'd  laid  b;n-e 
was  too  small  to  enabh?  mc  to  form  a,  very  diTidod 
0|)inion  al)out  its  constancy  ;  but.  as  far  as  observable, 
it  a])])eared  veiy  promising  and  regular.  The  reason 
why  such  a  Ixul  as  AIcArthur's  liail  not  been  tried  at 
that  time  was  the  idea  that  only  puio  graphite,  like 
that  from  Cameron's  lot,  was  of  much  value.  Tlie 
WQW  processes  for  dressing  plumbtigo  lilve  this  for  mar- 
k(^t  give  the  matter  quite  a,  different  aspect.  The 
particles  of  spar  in  INFcArthur's  plumbago  are  small, 
and  form  only  a  trilling  percentage  of  the  mass. 
Judging  from  ^^hat  I  saw,  this  is  decidedly  the  nmst 
promising  locality  for  plund)ag<i  with  whicli  1  am 
acquainted.      The  thickness   of  the  bed  is  iriven  bv 


b' 


sir  William  Logan  as  three  feet,  whicli    1   think  i; 
correct.     Like  all  beds  of  graphite, 


nnist  be  looked  for  in  it ;  but.  nnl 


(^SS 


some  irregularitv 
a  more  conn 


iplete 


exanunation  prove  it  very  different  fi'om  what  I  ex- 
pect, it  is  certainly  well  worth  Nvorking. 


If) 


If  1  tliink  of  any  i]un<j;  more  in  rci^^rinl  in  iUU  plaro 
I  shiil]  mention  it  the  next  time  1  write.  M.';intinie, 
1  rem;  I  in 

\'erv  truly  vonrs. 


liOJ'.KUT   J]KLL 


Sul.Joi.KMl   U  an   Analysis,  l,y   1),..  C. 'i\  .I.,-i-snn,  of  r,(,st.,n,  of 
SI  specimen  of  J'luiubago  from  th."  :iIm)\o  iooalitv  :  — - 


II..V.  J.  1).  riurr.N-.  lio.TOs,  Ihx.  Ttli,  ISOG. 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  have  workcMl  a  Painplo  of  tlie  Oraphih'  or  I'luml.a-,)  voii 
lofr  with  UK-  hy  Mr.  Br.nlio's  i)rncoss,  ai!.I  (ln.1  that  r.iMl  grainy  of  it  i-ivo  'm) 
^m.tisof  purefoUato:!  I'imuha^o,  au.I  100  grains  of  Mlicious  .a.ul,  ((,uart/.) 
It  thon  tore-  con.Msts  of  t-oths  puro  Plumbago  and  l-^th  quartz. 
_  ^'o  Iran  I'yntcs  is  ])resfnl,  an-l  I  think  this  I'iumhafio  will  serve  for  niak:- 
'ng  crncihlt's,  sinco  tlie  quartz  wlun  groun<l  fiuo  ^vith  the  plun.hag,,  oannot 
;ict  inuinously  in  tlie  crudblo  mixture.  It  certainly  am  be  mi.xc.l  with  (lie 
more  expensive  Ceyh.a  foliate.l  i)luinbago  with  a  saving  ,>f  expense  and  yet 
pro-iuee  good  rruciUes.    The  pre;  ared  ].!umhago  i.  suitable  Ibr  pem-il  making. 

Kcspeetfully  your  ebf.  srvt., 

<^"-  T.  JAC.K.SUN\  M.l).,  .^V,/^.  .1,v.sy;^„..  . 


No.l 


1 

1 

-^ 

I 

( 

I 

i 

/ 

\ 

1 

t, 

1 
< 

1 

-.-=rnB-r 

rxn^-TS. 

-     ,  -r»-..r 

r 

If 

i 

jk 

I 


O 

i 


'4 


5  (.?/;//?". 


ir_: 


,^==± 


Mf   C.V  /■/      /  /  /■// 


y 


';^'^?^i<:^>i.':SS..- 


■,x^- — -■—'  If//. 


mmssM 


Jmu  a,  -P 
PoSfTfOX  oiThi:  PkOI'MHTY 


or    r Ht 


wrmimE^immmw^ 


m 


GRENVILLE. CANADA  EAST. 


ALE 


zn::::: 


,=i 


•^l//7r.y. 


LOT  II. 


*i  No.5 
.   .       ■      t 

V  \  ^^  NoS 
A*  /'  ■  ' 


CAMERO 


,.'.-X 


OT  II. 


LOT    I. 


(       e 


^MERON  PROPERTY 


. _^y 


# 


J 


■^ 


hh'MW'P 


Vk-^ 


/ 


r 


/ 


v-''^-^ 


..w 


l'^. 


I 


I. 

f  i 


i 


i 


f 


\ 


\ 


r 


LOT    /// 


/-or  //.\ 


V 


0 


7 


T     -^ 


W     -A 


?: 


ic 


iii.:^i::i=.iL.id:. 


j^/;' 


V 


4fi     


iBi 


H      POl^rCAurc^^^ 


SCALi:. 


HuCfffli/ts  or 
_/  Mile 


I'  llohh  M.K 

Man  ( fra( 


